Ink by Isabelle Rowan - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

Mar 22, 2013 Jon added it

Dominic is tired, old and alone; weary of his existence to the point of withdrawing from any human contact…except to feed.
It's been a while since he’s had a lover, one that touched him as much as the one from his past. For a reason not entirely clear to the reader, Dominic finds himself watching Ink every night, a tattoo shop emanating smells of blood and sweat that draw him and where he spots Michael, a young tattoo artist that stirs something in the ancient man that he has not enjoyed in a lo...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Mandy*reads obsessively* rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, ebook-owned, paranormal

3.5*
I admit it, I totally fell for the cover, then I saw it was about vampires and tattoos...I knew I had to have it! :)
Well, it starts out slow and sad, Dominic has lived a long time and most of it alone. And he is depressed, and it was getting me down, then we see how fascinated he is with Michael.
Michael is a tattoo artist, he remembers Dominic and is drawn to him even if he isn't supposed to be.
He doesn't give up, and sort of forces his way into Dominic's life.
Parts sort of dragged for me, a...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Brett rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This one left me feeling a little mixed as to whether I liked it or not. There were moments where I couldn’t get enough of Michael and Dominic’s growing relationship, and other times when I wished something would hurry up and happen. I enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second half of the book. The introduction of Dominic’s psycho ex, and maker, took the book off course, becoming more focussed on the past than on the interesting changes going on in the present. But the Australian setting...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Julesmarie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, vampires

I nearly stopped reading this part-way through. It was just way too Twilight-y:

Human: (meets a mysterious stranger who does things he can't explain and whom he feels inexplicably drawn to)
Vampire: but I'm a vampire
Human: cool.
Vampire: aren't you afraid?
Human: No, I'm in love with you. Let's have sex.
Vampire: But we can't. I'm a vampire. I'll hurt you.
Human: *shrugs* Then make me a vampire.

I'm glad I stuck through it. (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Devi rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: consigned-to-hell, ebook, supernatural, bromance

And so we go from Fielding's Night Shift, where my faith was restored in an mm writer's ability to, well, write, to this which, having learned my lesson skim reading two Evangeline Anderson books and one JR Ward, I have in fact abandoned.

Why? Well, I probably could have put up with the premise - obligatory lonely and brooding vampire Dominic pining after spunky young tattoo artist Michael. Points for narrative hook there because if a vampire obsessed with tattoos isn't an instant recipe for sel...more And so we go from Fielding's Night Shift, where my faith was restored in an mm writer's ability to, well, write, to this which, having learned my lesson skim reading two Evangeline Anderson books and one JR Ward, I have in fact abandoned.

Why? Well, I probably could have put up with the premise - obligatory lonely and brooding vampire Dominic pining after spunky young tattoo artist Michael. Points for narrative hook there because if a vampire obsessed with tattoos isn't an instant recipe for self-destructive trouble I don't know what is. I mean, what a great classic set up - the one thing the character can't stop himself from doing is the one thing that will put him in danger while simultaneously being the one thing that he never knew he needed in order to be free/happy/etc.

Sadly, things started out hinting at this and then quickly devolved into this wishy-washy "let me be with you" "no I must not for I will destroy you and yet I want you like no other blar-blar blar" drama. Honestly, I have nothing against a little bit of tragic romance but this resulted in zero believable narrative tension. I'm not sure if this was because it was set in the Australian gothic subculture where said denizens are apparently totally ok with all things supernatural and would never react with fear, horror or disbelief at having scary shit happening to them (yes that was a said with a touch of sarcasm), but all this cool acceptance of Dominic's being a creature of the night and messing with their minds and all that just undermined the whole set up.

On top of that the other deal-breaker for me was a constant and undelineated shift in POV. I find this kind of thing both incredibly annoying and hard to follow as well as evidence of immature writing - being unable to or choosing not to maintain one POV in a single scene leads me to assume the writer will similarly not be able to control their narrative structure. There's a place for POV change and it's not mid paragraph.

I suppose in contrast I should take back some of the things I said about EA and JRW; at least their stories were interesting enough to keep me skim reading. This time, I couldn't even force myself to do that. I wonder if Dreamspinner will give me my money back?(less)

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Nov 23, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/

I’ve read a lot of Vampire themed stories, but in my opinion Ink was a unique spin on a well-used tale. It’s definitely darker than most, and the author does not romanticize being a vampire at all, so if you’re only interested in the ‘Twilight’ type of vampires, then Ink will not be the book for you.

Dominic is an ancient vampire who’s been going through the same routine and motions for the past century. He’s tired and lonely and sick of his existence. The o...more http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/

I’ve read a lot of Vampire themed stories, but in my opinion Ink was a unique spin on a well-used tale. It’s definitely darker than most, and the author does not romanticize being a vampire at all, so if you’re only interested in the ‘Twilight’ type of vampires, then Ink will not be the book for you.

Dominic is an ancient vampire who’s been going through the same routine and motions for the past century. He’s tired and lonely and sick of his existence. The only thing that’s given him any kind of spark of interest is a young tattoo artist he’s been watching for some time. Deciding he can’t stay away from the young man, he decides to get a tattoo, even though he knows it will disappear the next day, just so he can be around the fascinating man.

Dominic knows that any kind of interest he shows Michael can bring danger to him, so he immediately swipes the memory of them meeting from the young man’s mind and hopes that the short time he was in Michael’s chair will satisfy his craving to be around the young tattoo artist. But even though Dominic’s intentions are good, he still finds himself watching Michael and hanging out in the places Michael likes to go to, just to see him. When Michael keeps showing an interest in him, Dominic finds himself unable to keep away from him any longer. He begins to feel something special for the young man and the more he’s around him, the more his lifeless existence starts withering away into having the hope that his life is now changing into something he never thought he’d have again. Love.

But just as things start really blossoming between Dominic and Michael, and Michael really begins to breathe life into his ancient vampire lover, Dominic’s creator finds him and soon the love and life that they’ve begun to share together is threatened. Will they be able to fight off the predator that is determined to destroy them?

I really loved this book. Both heroes are likeable, very flawed men. I loved Dominic and was glad to see Michael breathe some life and hope into his existence. He’s very tired and has lost all hope that he’ll ever have someone to share his life with. Most people want his dark gifts, but they really don’t want him, whereas Michael is different. He’s full of life and energy and his love, companionship and acceptance really brings out the best in Dominic. There are also some very interesting secondary characters in this book that plays a big part of the storyline itself. They are Michael’s friends and in many ways his chosen family and they are as genuine and likeable as the two heroes are.

In some ways this book is almost like two novels. The first part of the book is strictly about Dominic and Michael’s relationship. It concentrates on how their relationship develops and how they’re fitting each other into their lives. I loved it! I loved how Michael really accepted Dominic and how he really brought the old vampire out of his shell. I thought the feelings they had for each other was really genuine and I loved watching them fall in love.

The second part of the book is basically about Dominic’s past and about how and who created him. There is more action in this section of the book and it really shows the darker side of being a vampire. It introduces Dominic’s maker (who surprisingly I really ended up liking…not really sure why) and the danger he puts Dominic, Michael and Michael’s close friends into. I also really liked this part of the book, even though it almost still felt like a sequel to the first book. It had a different feel about it than the first part of the book gave me, but I still found the story extremely fast paced and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Ironically, as I mentioned before I really ended up liking and even feeling sorry for Dominic’s creator, Galen. He, himself ended up being quite fascinating to me and even though he’s delusional about many things, I wanted things to end up differently for him. (I know this is being a little vague, but I don’t want to spoil it. It would be interesting to see if anyone feels the same way I do about Galen after they read this book) I wanted more for him. I wanted more of him. I actually cried when things worked out the way they did for him.

I hated to see Ink come to an end. I really wanted to read more about all of these characters lives and I hope that Ms. Rowan will one day write more about these characters. I’d love to see how thing continue to work out for all of them. If you are looking for a fresh, fast-paced and uniquely told tale of a vampire who finds the love of his life and must fight to keep him, then Ink is definitely the book for you! Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi(less)

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Jan 12, 2012 Lidia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you think this is yet another vampire book, think again. Dominic is not the usual beautiful and muscular vampire with powers exstraordinary, a being tormented because is alone, in search of lost humanity that believes in him, look for a sun that can warm as what makes the flowers grow in his garden . Michael represents the sun, life, and perhaps hope. The poetic writing of Rowan cradle and accompanies the reader in this story where thoughts, feelings, colors, and even smells speak louder than...more

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Dec 22, 2011 T.A. Webb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dominic is old. Tired. Alone. His existence tires him, makes him withdraw from the human contact he craves, but fears. It has been so long since he has felt a lover's touch, care, love. He sits across the street from Ink and watches the humans go in and out, smelling the blood and sweat. And sees a good looking young man who stirs things in him that he hides from.

Michael is a tattoo artist at Ink, funny, smart, young, handsome. When the attractive man comes in to the shop as it is ready to close...more Dominic is old. Tired. Alone. His existence tires him, makes him withdraw from the human contact he craves, but fears. It has been so long since he has felt a lover's touch, care, love. He sits across the street from Ink and watches the humans go in and out, smelling the blood and sweat. And sees a good looking young man who stirs things in him that he hides from.

Michael is a tattoo artist at Ink, funny, smart, young, handsome. When the attractive man comes in to the shop as it is ready to close and asks for a tattoo, he notices, is attracted, but has fear mingled with attraction. Once the tattoo is finished, Dominic makes him forget.

But Michael doesn't. Not completely. He is drawn to the smooth skin, the sadness, the emptiness. Even when he shouldn't be. So he tracks Dominic, watches for him, and is drawn to him in spite of himself. And when Dominic pushes him away, he cannot help but trace him again and again.

When Dominic decides to end his existence rather than harm Michael, Michael calls upon all of his caring and tracks him, finds him and restores him. And makes Dominic admit he wants. Needs. But to take Michael to his bed, that is impossible. He would kill the man.

Will Michael push Dominic to open himself to feelings he has denied himself? How can they be together? And when Dominic's maker returns for his "son", will he be able to keep Michael safe, or will the new found love be crushed out?

This wonderful, dark and yet hopeful take on the vampire legend is just terrific. Isabelle Rowan has crafted a memorable and inventive love story between two men drifting, not allowing themselves to connect with another fully, and yet who forge an instant and powerful connection. The build is slow, the pacing masterful, and the characters fully developed, believable and whole. Dominic is tragic, a man with a long history of denying himself love and comfort. The slow awakening of his heart is so true and honest to his character. And Michael is just wonderful - stubborn, young yet mature, the polar opposite and yet the perfect compliment to Dominic.

The supporting characters in this book are so good also. Ben and Abby work with Michael at Ink, and are his best friends. They figure hugely in the last half of the book and are so well imagined. And Galen, Dominic's maker. I think he was the most interesting character in the book. So evil, it seems. And yet, so fragile and human, broken and flawed, just fascinating.

This is a strong strong book. It grabbed me by the throat and, strangely, by the heart. Funny, and I didn't mind either.

Grab it for a different experience.

Tom(less)

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Dec 15, 2011 Manuela added it · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires, mm, paranormal

Vampires are a subject I'm usually not really interested into and I think this affects my opinion on the book. So I decided to not give a rating.
I decided to read this story, in spite of my lack of interest for vampires, because of the excerpt, which I read after being attracted by the beautiful cover. It intrigued me and made me want to know more about Dominic and Michael.
Can a vampire still be human or is he destined to become a monster? This seems to be the main focus of the book. It's an i...more

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Aug 14, 2012 P.A. Lupton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is definitely not for everyone but I loved it. It was recommended to me for a pick for me challenge and I have to admit I probably wouldn't have picked it otherwise, but it was such a good story. It wasn't really new or unique, but the story pulled you in and it was full of emotion.

I was reminded of Anne Rice's vampire chronicles as I was reading. Obviously the story is different, but Isabelle Rowan did a good job of portraying the tortured vampire. Dominic reminded me of Louis. He wa...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Phil Ansell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites, m-m-romance

What an intoxicating book. I absolutely loved it. The first part of the book was so full of emotion, I was physically shuddering with the desire and want of the tattooist Michael and the vampire Dominic. It tore you in two having them desire each other with so much intensity, yet holding back because of Dominic's concerns for how much he could affect Michael. It created a great sense of melancholy yet all the while you had the hope they would be together, because they just had to be. It felt lik...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: boyswholoveboys, in-my-kindle

Ink is a story about an old vampire who fell in love with a human.

That’s not even remotely ground-breaking, isn’t it? Almost majority of the books dealing with these nocturnal creatures had them fighting off their bloodlust with the people they’re supposedly in love with. I must admit, the pull of this book lies in the fact that it’s an m/m PNR. And while I normally don’t put too much stock into how the book is packaged, the beauty of its cover was also an added bonus.

Surprisingly, this book was...more Ink is a story about an old vampire who fell in love with a human.

That’s not even remotely ground-breaking, isn’t it? Almost majority of the books dealing with these nocturnal creatures had them fighting off their bloodlust with the people they’re supposedly in love with. I must admit, the pull of this book lies in the fact that it’s an m/m PNR. And while I normally don’t put too much stock into how the book is packaged, the beauty of its cover was also an added bonus.

Surprisingly, this book was a bit more than just your average vampire drivel. It has a well-evolved history even if some of its elements were a bit pedestrian. Some vampire novels tend to try hard to be original but this one, I felt, kept closer to the lore.

Dominic spends his nights wandering Chapel Street; he sits at a café without ever drinking what he orders. Across the street, a young tattoo artist is unaware of the fact that he’s being watched. Until one night when a walk-in client decides to let his presence known. Plagued with self-loathing for what he’s about put Michael through and the possibilities of the harm he can do to him, Dominic pulls away. From the moment on, his connection to Dominic is all-consuming that it literally feels like he's missing a limb when he's not around. He also feels everything Dominic feels: loneliness, pain, love, and lust.

The next time they meet, Michael wouldn’t let him go until Dominic cut off all ties and decides to let his existence slowly perish by not feeding. But Michael made his own decision: he’d rather die than live without Dominic.

The love story is a little typical of the story line: an ancient vampire who fights off his nature (and fails) and a human with no sense of self-preservation. There was too much self-hatred on Dominic’s part and too much self-sacrificing affinity on Michael’s. They have such a staid connection and the author was very adept in making sure it comes off the pages. It’s in the way they communicate – telepathically and otherwise. It’s in every look and every touch and it’s in the way they feel each other’s presence, regardless of the distance. While I usually am not so forgiving when it comes to instant love between characters, I feel like I could give this book a pass. There’s just something about a supernatural being that’s hard to resist. And I get it.

Ink is dark and vivid, with a world that could give Anne Rice’s Lestat Chronicles a run for her money. The problem I had with this book was the lack of details on Michael’s change. It seemed so rush considering how much Dominic loathed changing him. Michael also didn’t seem to have struggled with it; his sharpened senses didn’t bother him too much. In fact, the only instance I felt like he had a hard time was when he was assaulted with the need to hurt one of his best friends. The author didn’t get hung up on Michael’s hunger especially when he was briefly separated from Dominic. I thought it wasn’t realistic. But then again, this is a vampire book. There's nothing realistic about that.

I also did not understand why Dominic would stay away from Michael when he knew it would kill him. I’m not being melodramatic either. I meant that Michael wouldn’t feed on anyone else but Dominic. Knowing this, he still chose to stay away because he thought he was doing Michael a favor.

Overall, I think this book was entertaining enough if you’re like me who's been looking to resuscitate her appetite for vampires.
(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Aurora rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural

Dominic, a Roman centurion, is jaded with his existence as a vampire until he sees Michael, a young tattooist. Dominic is drawn to Michael’s vibrancy and despite his best efforts to stay away from the young man, he is continuously drawn to him. After each visit, Dominic clouds Michael’s mind so he won’t remember him but it is failing.

Fascinated by Dominic, Michael pursues the vampire, even though he is aware there is something different about him. Dominic almost starves himself to death trying t...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Sammy2006 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again Isabelle Rowan delves deep to give us characters that tug at our hearts and remind us of our humanity--and this time she does it with vampires! Perhaps one of the most beautiful love stories I have read to date, Ink takes us into the life of a vampire who feels he has lived beyond his existence--we feel his loneliness so keenly--it is palpable--painful, so very real.

Dominic is centuries old and has ceased to believe that he will ever be able to form a relationship that does not end i...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mm-vampires, mm-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

Isabelle Rowan's A Note in the Margin is one of the most profound novels in this genre I have ever read and I have been waiting for her to release a new title. I'm so happy that this month (December 2011), she doesn't only release one story but two. This novel is an expanded version of a short story in an anthology. I have not read that, I decide to choose this one instead.

Dusk during the Melbourne summer was a haze of orange that would have rivaled any in the world except for its brevity. The t...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Chad rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, m-m, vampires, ebook

I will admit that the cover art was the first thing that drew me to this novel. I mean, how, I ask you, could I resist?

Next, the description intrigued me. Roman centurions, you say? Yes, please. Vampires? Lovely! Tattoos? I enjoy those... It sounded like it could be interesting. On the other hand, it also sounded like it had the potential to be a corny cliché-ridden disaster. Thankfully, what I found was a tastefully written novel that explores the nuances and nature of love, friendship and huma...more

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Dec 27, 2011 SueM rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie, vampires

As much as I enjoyed reading a novel set in my home town, I was a little disappointed by this novel. It wasn't bad by any means, but it didn't have the impact of Rowan's previous novel, A Note in the Margin. Some may point out that this is a paranormal romance novel while 'A Note...' was a contemporary romance, and I shouldn't expect the same, well, that may be true up to a point... Unfortunately,the difference in genre cannot account for the lack of emotional connection I had with the character...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Lady*M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m-romance, paranormal

3.5 - 3.75 stars

The cover is stunning, possibly one of the best covers this year. Writing was very good, very beautiful, like always when it comes to Rowan's work, though I really, really don't like her "wondering" POV.

The connection between Michael and Dominic was too fast, a bit too "supernatural" for me. I liked Michael and his determination as well as Abby and Scott and their persistent friendship and affection for Michael. Dominic was too brooding for my taste and some of the things he did...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Bookwatcher ~Mary MooCow~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires, cover-is-pretty, paranormal-romance, glbt-gay, few-or-no-sex-scene

It's certainly not an easy book to read. Full of sadness and angst you may have second thoughts and don't give a try... well, don't do it. I dare you to read it, to suffer with all characters... feel all their pain, loneness... because after such strong sentiments when you start to feel their happiness it will be such release! It will be like an escape from a dark confinement, to a place where there is still hope for them, for you, for each of us.
Because if Dominic can find love and feel it, an...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Awilk -will work for books- rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: body-art-tattoos, cover-favourites, kindle, m-m, oz-author, paranormal, read-in-2012, secondary-characters-i-love, slightly-disappointing, tortured-hero-s, vampire, set-in-oz

I am a bit confused on how to rate this, as it was very different to what I normally read, and I am confused by my feelings for it.
I liked the characters, and found the story mainly very interesting, especially the second half of the book. Isabelle Rowan gave me enough back story to make her leading men very appealing, but I found the story was a bit slow in places. The secondary characters were also appealing, and there was a couple I would like to know more about.
The writing was good, and the...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Kathleen marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Recommended to Kathleen by: Shaz

Oooh...this cover is absolutely gorgeous...throw in vampires and tattoos and I am totally there...I am adding this to qgbc to pick from list. =)

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Dec 17, 2011 Meggie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vampire, fantasy

This story was weird. The start was interesting and pulling. I liked how Michael and Dominic met, how their story developed...from feelings of recognition...longings to be together.... toward turning Michael into a vampire. Their, so called, instant love was a bit fast, but okay, acceptable. After this plotted part my interest in this story partly fell. Sure Michael got his wish, he became a vampire to be able to be together with Dominic, after this process the emotions were bland, everything wa...more

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Jan 24, 2012 L-D rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, pnr, vampires, tats-piercings-scars-yum

I'm very happy that this is an expanded novella. Of late I've been disappointed with a lot of the novella length books in the M/M genre because they are lacking character and plot development even though many of them have wonderful characters and premises and a lot of potential.

Dominic is a very lonely vampire. In order to not give in to his baser predatory instincts, he cannot form any lasting bonds with humans. This changes the day he meets Michael and is inexorably drawn to Michael's beauty...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Gabbi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: angst, dreamspinner-press, gay-fiction, gay-romance, i-hope-this-will-be-a-series, may-december, opposites-attract, paranormal, suspense, top2bottom-reviews, isabelle-rowan, dreamspinner-spotlight-for-top-2-bo

I’ve read a lot of Vampire themed stories, but in my opinion Ink was a unique spin on a well-used tale. It’s definitely darker than most, and the author does not romanticize being a vampire at all, so if you’re only interested in the ‘Twilight’ type of vampires, then Ink will not be the book for you.

Dominic is an ancient vampire who’s been going through the same routine and motions for the past century. He’s tired and lonely and sick of his existence. The only thing that’s given him any kind of...more I’ve read a lot of Vampire themed stories, but in my opinion Ink was a unique spin on a well-used tale. It’s definitely darker than most, and the author does not romanticize being a vampire at all, so if you’re only interested in the ‘Twilight’ type of vampires, then Ink will not be the book for you.

Dominic is an ancient vampire who’s been going through the same routine and motions for the past century. He’s tired and lonely and sick of his existence. The only thing that’s given him any kind of spark of interest is a young tattoo artist he’s been watching for some time. Deciding he can’t stay away from the young man, he decides to get a tattoo, even though he knows it will disappear the next day, just so he can be around the fascinating man.

Dominic knows that any kind of interest he shows Michael can bring danger to him, so he immediately swipes the memory of them meeting from the young man’s mind and hopes that the short time he was in Michael’s chair will satisfy his craving to be around the young tattoo artist. But even though Dominic’s intentions are good, he still finds himself watching Michael and hanging out in the places Michael likes to go to, just to see him. When Michael keeps showing an interest in him, Dominic finds himself unable to keep away from him any longer. He begins to feel something special for the young man and the more he’s around him, the more his lifeless existence starts withering away into having the hope that his life is now changing into something he never thought he’d have again. Love.

But just as things start really blossoming between Dominic and Michael, and Michael really begins to breathe life into his ancient vampire lover, Dominic’s creator finds him and soon the love and life that they’ve begun to share together is threatened. Will they be able to fight off the predator that is determined to destroy them?

I really loved this book. Both heroes are likeable, very flawed men. I loved Dominic and was glad to see Michael breathe some life and hope into his existence. He’s very tired and has lost all hope that he’ll ever have someone to share his life with. Most people want his dark gifts, but they really don’t want him, whereas Michael is different. He’s full of life and energy and his love, companionship and acceptance really brings out the best in Dominic. There are also some very interesting secondary characters in this book that plays a big part of the storyline itself. They are Michael’s friends and in many ways his chosen family and they are as genuine and likeable as the two heroes are.

In some ways this book is almost like two novels. The first part of the book is strictly about Dominic and Michael’s relationship. It concentrates on how their relationship develops and how they’re fitting each other into their lives. I loved it! I loved how Michael really accepted Dominic and how he really brought the old vampire out of his shell. I thought the feelings they had for each other was really genuine and I loved watching them fall in love.

The second part of the book is basically about Dominic’s past and about how and who created him. There is more action in this section of the book and it really shows the darker side of being a vampire. It introduces Dominic’s maker (who surprisingly I really ended up liking…not really sure why) and the danger he puts Dominic, Michael and Michael’s close friends into. I also really liked this part of the book, even though it almost still felt like a sequel to the first book. It had a different feel about it than the first part of the book gave me, but I still found the story extremely fast paced and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Ironically, as I mentioned before I really ended up liking and even feeling sorry for Dominic’s creator, Galen. He, himself ended up being quite fascinating to me and even though he’s delusional about many things, I wanted things to end up differently for him. (I know this is being a little vague, but I don’t want to spoil it. It would be interesting to see if anyone feels the same way I do about Galen after they read this book) I wanted more for him. I wanted more of him. I actually cried when things worked out the way they did for him.

I hated to see Ink come to an end. I really wanted to read more about all of these characters lives and I hope that Ms. Rowan will one day write more about these characters. I’d love to see how thing continue to work out for all of them. If you are looking for a fresh, fast-paced and uniquely told tale of a vampire who finds the love of his life and must fight to keep him, then Ink is definitely the book for you! Highly Recommended!

(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Cornerofmadness rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica, urban-fantasy, lgbt

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 04, 2012 Marcela (BookaholicCat) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3 ½ Stars

After seeing the beautiful cover and reading the blurb I knew I had to read this book. The blurb is very explicit, adding more to it will be giving too much away. Let me just tell you that Ink is one of those books you start to read with low expectations and along the way it surprise you when you find yourself completely submerged in the story.

One of the things I liked the most about Ink was the writing. Mrs. Rowen’s writing is very vivid and realistic, not only with the description of...more 3 ½ Stars

After seeing the beautiful cover and reading the blurb I knew I had to read this book. The blurb is very explicit, adding more to it will be giving too much away. Let me just tell you that Ink is one of those books you start to read with low expectations and along the way it surprise you when you find yourself completely submerged in the story.

One of the things I liked the most about Ink was the writing. Mrs. Rowen’s writing is very vivid and realistic, not only with the description of places but the way the characters feel and think, for that reason it was very easy to connect with them and feel what they were feeling. The loneliness and sadness of Dominic broke my heart, at the same time Michael’s optimism and fresher spirit made me believe in a possible happy future for him and Dominic.

I really liked the first half of the book, the events that happened up to when Michael and Dominic got together were the best part of the story, after that somehow the plot lost a bit its direction, don’t take me wrong it wasn’t bad, I just wanted to see more of Dominic and Michael’s relationship development and the adaptation of Michael to his new life next to Dominic. I would have preferred for them to explore that together without external factors and complications.

The secondary characters are few but very interesting, all bringing something important to the story, whether conflict, friendship or anguish. My favorite was Michael’s best friend Abby, she felt as an old soul, more mature and smarter than her age. I love how she was there for Michael every time he needed her, she always had good advice to give and never judge him for his actions.
Another interesting character was Galen, I wanted to hate him but it was impossible, he does what he does because he is a broken child in a man body, one who doesn’t know any better, actually I felt sad for him.

Another thing I really like about this book was the setting, not many books are set in Melbourne (Australia); usually vampire books are set in the U.S. or Europe, I found this new setting refreshing and interesting. Besides this, Ink is not your usual vampire book, Ink is a book about the value of love, friendships and what is to be human.
Even though I would have done without certain parts of the book I still enjoyed it a lot. Ink is written in easy-to-follow multiple POVs, this gave us a broader understanding of the characters and their situations.
Ink was my first book by Isabelle Rowan, as I said before I loved her writing style and I can guarantee you Ink won’t be my last book by her. (less)

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Mar 30, 2012 t'irla ~The BookSlayer~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: lovers of romance

Recommended to t'irla ~The BookSlayer~ by: netgalley

Shelves: misc-romance, bdsm, erotica, m-k-romance

What a surprising book. I have to admit I read this book not expecting to be engaged, much to my surprise the book grabbed me and reeled me in...I was 'caught'!

Description:

Roman centurion Dominic drew his last human breath during the time of Hadrian. In the centuries since, he’s seen much of the world change around him, but the vampire finds himself held captive in Melbourne, Australia, by his fascination with young, passionate, fun-loving, and alive tattoo artist Michael Chapman. Unable to resi...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Ron rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’ve had this book since it was out... But I kept putting the reading back. I got it along with another vampire gay romance, and I was unlucky enough to start by the other novel. I couldn’t push past the first few chapters and this discouraged me from dicovering Ink. I’m glad I remedied the situation, though! This is actually a very sweet romance that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre.

The thing I liked the most was the voice, but at the same time I realize that some people might not...more I’ve had this book since it was out... But I kept putting the reading back. I got it along with another vampire gay romance, and I was unlucky enough to start by the other novel. I couldn’t push past the first few chapters and this discouraged me from dicovering Ink. I’m glad I remedied the situation, though! This is actually a very sweet romance that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre.

The thing I liked the most was the voice, but at the same time I realize that some people might not like it. The tone is dark and deep, moody. Dominic is a broody hero like no other! He sees only the glum and doom and the dangers to his relationship to Mike... which is what some readers might find familiar, as it’s a recurrent theme.

But what can I say? I love broody characters, as long as their melancholy doesn’t render them stupid.

I have to admit, Dominic was a close call because he made some very poor choices when faced with someone from his past. The good news is that while protective, he did let Mike make his own choices and he tried to prepare his lover to the best of his abilities of the life of a vampire, so that mostly redeems him.

Mike, on his side, also made some silly choices. The most obvious is listening to someone you don’t know at all instead of waiting and asking the one you love and trust. But I think I can see why he would listen to this other person... I found myself attracted to the character as well. He was so broken, so clearly an innocent and a psycopath that I felt my saviour instincts kick in. Well done in that aspect!

There were some things that bothered me, I won’t lie. Vampire existence was accepted a bit too easily. The romance was a bit too fast, too deep, too much like a shooting star. But when that’s the only complain I have about a book, I count myself happy. Ink in particular outweighted the misgivings presenting a tender side to the love story, and dwelling in friendship and acceptance as integral parts of the plot.

All in all, if you like the genre, I think you should give this novel a shot.(less)

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Mar 26, 2012 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, romance, queer, review-copy, contemporary

Overall
A classic tale of a young man's attraction to a vampire ending with a question of humanity and whether vampires are still of the same stock from which they were born. Ink is a slowly building story that uses a third person omniscient perspective that mainly sticks to the two main characters. The story was fairly good, the writing the same, but I had difficulty really getting into it. This teeters on an Insta-Love edge, but the way it was handled keeps it from being too terrible an example...more Overall
A classic tale of a young man's attraction to a vampire ending with a question of humanity and whether vampires are still of the same stock from which they were born. Ink is a slowly building story that uses a third person omniscient perspective that mainly sticks to the two main characters. The story was fairly good, the writing the same, but I had difficulty really getting into it. This teeters on an Insta-Love edge, but the way it was handled keeps it from being too terrible an example. A pleasant overall read, those who devour vampire novels may enjoy it especially.

Strengths
While there are elements that I really couldn't grab and character moments that made me raise a brow, I really loved some parts of the characters. Abby especially was a delight, the only one in this whole story with her head screwed on right! Dominic has his moments, but Abby pegged him rightly as a Louis character, and Michael, while mostly sensible and a good guy, sometimes seems to be playing the role the author set out for him. Galen (see "dark specter" above), was a surprise and I enjoyed his depth for being a late-appearing villain.

Along those same lines, the ending surprised me, but didn't necessarily disappoint. The epilogue made me raise a brow, but I also liked the sense of mystery it left in the wake of the resolution. Compared to the slow beginning, the ending seemed almost rushed, although there wasn't much to be done to extend it, either. Still, I was satisfied, if not a little sad, to see the way the story went. Also, I loved the role tattoos and markings played in the story.

I really love the cover. It's arty and dark with a strong fantastical feel that really caught my eye. Elements of it relate to the content of the novel without strictly sticking to it.

Weaknesses
While not too terribly cliche, nothing felt especially fresh about this vampire tale. Old vampire thinks of vampires as godly and that the blood lust is unavoidable; young vampire struggles to retain his humanity. There are definitely some interesting elements of the story and while not necessarily new ideas, Rowan approaches the idea with confidence and from a slightly unique angle.

Even understanding the need for it, the beginning of the story is very slow to open as it develops the characters and the situation. Some may find this too slow and lose interest before the action starts. I didn't mind, but it took a little to keep me going, and this definitely wasn't a page-turner until near the end.

Requested this book for review.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.(less)

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May 10, 2012 Lenore rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: would-judge-by-the-cover, pub-dreamspinner, vampires, net-galley, freebies, m-m, paranormal, reviewed-by-yours-truly, tattoos, downunda

Ink is the story of Dominic, an ancient vampire who has been on this Earth since the era of the Roman emperor Hadrian. He's lonely but he keeps to himself by choice and is constantly tormented by his very same nature. He strives to keep a shred of his lost humanity in him but is tired of his existence, of having to shun the company of others because of the harm he can inflict upon them. He craves a companion's touch but it's been centuries since he last felt something remotely similar to lust or...more Ink is the story of Dominic, an ancient vampire who has been on this Earth since the era of the Roman emperor Hadrian. He's lonely but he keeps to himself by choice and is constantly tormented by his very same nature. He strives to keep a shred of his lost humanity in him but is tired of his existence, of having to shun the company of others because of the harm he can inflict upon them. He craves a companion's touch but it's been centuries since he last felt something remotely similar to lust or desire, let alone love.

Yet Dominic finds himself fascinated by a young and handsome and very lively tattoo artist, Michael. Every night he enters the tattoo parlor where Michael works, "Ink", and gets himself a tattoo he knows will fade until morning but he can't resist the attraction he feels for the young man. Michael isn't supposed to remember any of their encounters—Dominic takes care of that—but it seems that Michael shares the same feelings because he feels equally drawn to Dominic, he can "hear" Dominic thinking about him, he feels the urge to go to him.

So Dominic gives in to his rapidly growing feelings, turns Michael into a vampire and starts hoping again. But just about he starts thinking that his existence will finally take on meaning, Galen, his past lover and maker, a creature even more ancient than Dominic, appears and he's determined to not let Dominic enjoy his newfound life with Michael.

In more ways than one, Dominic reminded me of Louis, the tormented hero of Ann Rice's Interview with the Vampire. The self-loathing, the brooding, the constant questioning of his existence, the desperate clinging to what he considers his last traces of humanity. So it was fairly easy for me to empathize with him. It didn't get far beyond that, I found him pretty one dimensional and at times tiring but I liked him alright.

Michael on the other hand, came across more or less as an enthusiastic and impulsive but also kind of emotionally immature character. And maybe that's why I wasn't very convinced by his romance with Dominic. Don't get me wrong, I liked Michael more than Dominic, but I kept picturing him as a love-struck teenager and I'm not sure that was exactly the author's intention.

Galen was the most intriguing character for me, mostly because of his past and his history with Dominic but I'm a sucker for villains so maybe I'm not the best judge on that.

All in all, I enjoyed the story and maybe I would have given it a higher rating had it not been for the constant POV shifts, which confused me and didn't allow me to engage more with the characters.

Dreamspinner Press kindly provided me with an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review
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